“Oh, Ben! let me have that pretty kitten,” said Rose.

“It’s none of mine!” said Ben, half annoyed, half amused.

“I believe there is nothing more,” said the professor.

He carried back the hat to Ben, and gave it to him with the remark: 

“Young man, you may call for your vegetables and other articles after the entertainment.”

“You are welcome to them,” said Ben.

“Thank you; you are very liberal.”

When at length the performance was over, Ben and Rose moved toward the door.  As Rose reached the outer door, a boy about Ben’s age, but considerably better dressed, stepped up to her and said, with a consequential air: 

“I will see you home, Miss Gardiner.”

“Much obliged, Mr. Davenport,” said Rose, “but I have accepted Ben’s escort.”

CHAPTER VI TWO YOUNG RIVALS

Tom Davenport, for it was the son of Squire Davenport who had offered his escort to Rose, glanced superciliously at our hero.

“I congratulate you on having secured a grocer’s boy as escort,” he said in a tone of annoyance.

Ben’s fist contracted, and he longed to give the pretentious aristocrat a lesson, but he had the good sense to wait for the young lady’s reply.

“I accept your congratulations, Mr. Davenport,” said Rose coldly.  “I have no desire to change my escort.”

Tom Davenport laughed derisively, and walked away.

“I’d like to box his ears,” said Ben, reddening.

“He doesn’t deserve your notice, Ben,” said Rose, taking his arm.

But Ben was not easily appeased.

“Just because his father is a rich man,” he resumed.

“He presumes upon it,” interrupted Rose, good-naturedly.  “Well, let him.  That’s his chief claim to consideration, and it is natural for him to make the most of it.”

“At any rate, I hope that can’t be said of me,” returned Ben, his brow clearing.  “If I had nothing but money to be proud of, I should be very poorly off.”

“You wouldn’t object to it, though.”

“No, I hope, for mother’s sake, some day to be rich.”

“Most of our rich men were once poor boys,” said Rose quietly.  “I have a book of biographies at home, and I find that not only rich men, but men distinguished in other ways, generally commenced in poverty.”

“I wish you’d lend me that book,” said Ben.  “Sometimes I get despondent and that will give me courage.”

“You shall have it whenever you call at the house.  But you mustn’t think too much of getting money.”

“I don’t mean to; but I should like to make my mother comfortable.  I don’t see much chance of it while I remain a ‘grocer’s boy,’ as Tom Davenport calls me.”

“Better be a grocer’s boy than spend your time in idleness, as Tom does.”

“Tom thinks it beneath him to work.”